Distribution of Outstanding Education Debt by Income Quartile, 2013

Individuals currently living in households in the top quartile of the income distribution hold a disproportionate amount of education debt. Those in low-income households, who are less likely to have gone to college, hold much less education debt.

Outstanding education debt includes loans taken by students, parents, and others. The balance decreases as borrowers repay their loans and increases as more debt is incurred or interest and other charges accrue.